Simplicity Part 7: Deck Spindle Rebuild

[@pl747]

I need 3 spindles and pulleys and blades for a Snapper 355Z 44 inch. I think they are the same or similar. I cant find them though. I may adapt John Deere spindles to it. They are a little shorter on bottom though. Sure odd to have a 44 inch 3 blade setup.

[@tremdawg]

Do you have to take the whole deck off? I broke the blade bolt off inside the shaft. Should I just try to tap the bolt out with a drill and easy out? Or should I just replace the whole shaft. Seems like a lot of work for me I never did that before? What are your thoughts

[@scootergem]

Good job

[@oscarbojax8568]

Do you know the model number for the deck? I am looking for parts to an old Bolens deck model 14003 the spindles look identical Thanks

[@HamiltonMechanical]

Okay, so the deck should be a model number 1691666 :) should be able to pull the diagram up on www.partstree.com or any mower parts site that sells simplicity parts. best of luck! OLD bolens are very difficult to get parts for, i'm sure you've found out. They were owned by a company called garden way that went out of business in the late 90s, then MTD purchased the name but does not offer any parts for the garden way models. Great machines though! built really well for the time :)

[@applianceman6009]

I use sealed 6203 sealed ball bearings as they don’t need to be greased unlike these shield bearings. Greasing shield bearings is a MUST, but if they are replaced with sealed ball bearings, then greasing is absolutely pointless. The RTV seal is far superior to their “poor man” foam gasket seal!😂

[@HamiltonMechanical]

the original ones lasted 30 years no problems, these will continue to do the same. I've seen both used in mowers, and pretty much, it's up to the owner. if you leave your mower outside, it will fail, even with sealed bearings. ESPECIALLY cheap sealed bearings of today. If you get an aftermarket spindle, it'll usually have sealed bearings even if it has a grease fitting. Mower is on it's 3rd season now and mowing like a champ. She lives a few states away now, and is garage kept, so i doubt these will be a problem for many hours to come. Thanks for watching!

[@applianceman6009]

NSK bearings are made in Japan, and they are one of the finest bearing manufacturers out there. They should last many years!

[@HamiltonMechanical]

@@applianceman6009 yeah i always try to get them or skf, but man, so many fakes on the market these days!